GE workers, supporters rally

Members of Local 506 of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America rally outside of General Electric on April 16. The company has announced plans to eliminate 950 jobs. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

About the new UE Local 506 president

- Who: Scott Duke, 47, president of Local 506 of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America at GE Transportation. - Resides in: Lawrence Park Township- Work experience: Nearly 10 years with GE Transportation; 20 years with International Paper.

There were raindrops and a sense of resolve in the air as union employees and members of the community rallied Tuesday afternoon outside GE Transportation.

The stakes are high as Erie County's largest employer and its union workers get ready to bargain over the company's plan to eliminate 950 union jobs at its Lawrence Park plant.

"You are about to embark on some negotiations that are going to be the most important of your life," said Tony Ferritto, a 24-year GE veteran and a longtime union official.

As the two parties enter what's described as a 60-day bargaining window, GE Transportation officials have said they're open to the idea of reducing those cuts.

But the company has indicated it wants changes aimed at boosting productivity. The company has said workers at its plants in Fort Worth, Texas, are about 20 percent more productive than those in Lawrence Park.

Scott Duke, the new president of Local 506 of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America, told union members they have nothing for which to apologize.

"Be proud of the paycheck you make. You earned it," said Duke, who spoke to about 150 people at a noon rally and nearly 1,000 at a 2:30 p.m. rally.

Duke, who took office this week, said he recognizes that he's walking into the union presidency -- a full-time position -- at a pivotal and contentious time. The 47-year-old Lawrence Park resident, who worked for International Paper Co. before joining GE Transportation nearly 10 years ago, said he feels well prepared.

"This is what I was born to do," he said.

Duke said he didn't want to say much about the union's position before formal bargaining begins.

He did, however, strike a note of firm resolve as he addressed the crowd at the earlier of two rallies held Tuesday.

"I promise, with me at your helm, we are not going to back down," he said. "I promise you that. We stand together."

In a brief interview, Duke said he objected to the assertion that GE Transportation believes many of its union workers are actually doing just 4.5 hours of work a day because of work rules.

Duke said the only person who could understand what happens in the plant is someone who works there.

Other union members at Tuesday's rally were prepared to take on the charge that some workers aren't putting in full days.

Mark Haller, a union steward with more that 23 years of service, said the company has chronic problems with not providing parts to employees when they need them.

"The only time they (the company) get less than eight hours (of work) is when they don't put parts in front of us," he said.

The speakers, who stood in a steady but gentle rain during the 2:30 p.m. rally, offered repeated references to the company's profitability and its status as General Electric's Business of the Year for 2012.

"You need to make this company know we are the ones who put you where you are today," said Wayne Burnett, business agent for the union, which represents 3,570 workers at the local plant.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of elected officials, including U.S. Reps Mike Kelly and Glenn Thompson, Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott, Erie County Executive Barry Grossman and the Erie County contingent of state legislators sent separate letters Monday to the union and to the management at GE Transportation.

The letters are a reminder of what's at stake.

The letters read in part: "We strongly encourage (management and the union) to approach the decision-bargaining processes with an open mind and make every reasonable effort to retain jobs at the Lawrence Park plant."

That might well have been the theme of Tuesday's rallies. Many wore shirts or carried signs that said: "Keep it made in Erie."

Hundreds of workers joined in chants of, "Keep jobs in Erie."

Duke said that's his goal as bargaining begins April 22.

Duke said the company knows his reputation as a straight shooter.

"I am not going to play any games," he said. "I am going to bargain, but I am not going to beg."

But he also sounded a note of optimism, a sense of expectation that something good will come from bargaining.